48 Hours to make a film!!! What? And you want it to be good? OK.

So a few weeks ago a group of my filmmaking colleagues and I decided to participate in this year’s DC 48 Hour Film Project. Basically, you have 48 hours to write, shoot, edit and turn in your film. They give you a genre, character, prop, and line of dialogue that must be in the film. This keeps you from preplanning or doing the bulk of the work ahead of time.

I’ve done this competition before. Many times. And have had some stinkers and some really good projects. We actually won the Baltimore 48HFP in 2013 which was an outstanding honor. We represented our city in the International Competition at Filmapalooza in New Orleans that year.

Well, someone made a comment recently that kind of irked me a bit. (Not kind of. It pissed me off.) If you’re so good at these 48 films why don’t you do a feature? Ok. Done. Check out the trailer for my feature in which I created the story, produced and star in. The Night Watchmen Teaser/Trailer.

Now…

The reason I like to do these projects is…they are fun. I get to work with people I enjoy collaborating with. You don’t always get to pick and choose whom you work with. But in this competition you can. My philosophy…choose a team of talented folks, easy to work with, fun to be around, and then get out of their way and let them do their job. And that’s how I handle it. I am listed as the director but everyone on the team has a say in the final product. That’s what filmmaking is all about. Every person on the project pitches in, from the writers, to wardrobe, editing, music, sfx, actors and more. It translates into an entertaining well-made film. Are there moments of tension during the process? Yep. But because we have a group we know and have worked with before those moments turn into opportunities to make the film the best it can be.

We also bring new people on board as well. These are people just starting or trying to get some credits. It’s a good way to introduce new crew and actors because for better or worse at the end of the weekend you have a finished film that will screen in just a few days. And folks from every team I’ve been on go on and collaborate on future projects.

So to the person who wants to know why I still do these 48HFP. Well to put it simply…it’s fun! I love the process and will do it as often as I can with a great group of people who feel the same way. Surround yourself with like-minded individuals and the final result will always be a positive!

So check out our entry into this year’s DC 48HFP! We walked away with 5 awards! Best Writing-Best Ensemble-Best Costumes-Best SFX and 3rd Place Overall.

It was by far one of the best year’s I have been involved in. So many great films deserving of awards!!! It’s good to be involved in a filmmaking community that produces so many phenomenal productions. So the next time you’re looking to do something over the weekend and you really don’t want to sleep…sign up for the 48 Hour Film Project!!! It’s a hell of a good time!!! The Baltimore 48 is happening July 8th!!! Register your team today!

One comment on “48 Hours to make a film!!! What? And you want it to be good? OK.”

But there is another good reason to do these. $$$. A full-length takes lots of it. If someone could slip me $500 K or so, I’d love to produce a film of, say, the “Scottish Play”. But short of hitting the lottery ….

Congratulations on Night Watchman – but I’d bet over half the effort was getting the financing. I hope it pays off in a big way for you and all those involved.